A Zack Cozart is registered at Reds team hotel. Could be [an] odd coincidence, I suppose.

Ruling out the one-in-a-million chance that it actually is an odd coincidence and there’s another “Zack Cozart” staying at the Reds’ team hotel this weekend in Milwaukee, it sounds as though the Cincinnati front office has finally given in and promoted the promising 25-year-old shortstop from Triple-A Louisville.

Cozart has hit .310/.357/.467 with seven home runs, 26 doubles and 32 RBI in 77 games this season for the Louisville Bats. He’s also stolen nine bases in 11 attempts while playing adequate defense.

Success isn’t going to come easy for the first-time major leaguer, but Cozart only has to outplay Paul Janish, who is batting .227/.259/.271, and Edgar Renteria, who is hitting .229/.304/.271, to make himself an everyday presence in Cincinnati’s inconsistent starting lineup.

The Reds were able to squeak out a 9-8 extra-innings victory in St. Louis on Wednesday but enter Thursday’s action with a disappointing 44-44 record. They need to get it going, and Cozart can help make that happen.

UPDATE, 12:39 PM: Yonder Alonso, a teammate of Cozart’s at Triple-A Louisville, has confirmed that the shortstop is on his way to Milwaukee. The move should be made official before Thursday night’s game.

i’ve heard mixed things on cozart. the average is fueled by a .350 babip, but the power is real and he can play the position. he’s an upgrade over janish offensively but just powerwise, but he’s also old for the level.

Grade C prospects are the most common type. These are guys who have something positive going for them, but who may have a question mark or three, or who are just too far away from the majors to get an accurate feel for. A few Grade C guys, especially at the lower levels, do develop into stars. Many end up as role players or bench guys. Some don’t make it at all.

He was graded as the #8 prospect in the Reds organization this offseason. Just to remind you, the Reds have one of the best minor leagues in baseball. Can’t fake numbers in minor leagues. I’m willing to bet that he is instantly better than either SS currently on the team, not that it would be hard. I hope they send Janish back to AAA. Give him a chance to figure things out, as he and Renteria are basically the exact same player at this point.